Peters



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O. F. PIKE. Electrical Apparatus for Operating Valves. No. 228,558. Patented June 8,1880.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. P. PIKE. Electrical Apparatus for Operating Valves. No. 228,558. Patented June 8,1880.

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ATTORNEY iUNlTED STATES PATENT CHARLES F. PlKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONN.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUSFOR OPERATING VALVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ,Patent No. 228,558, dated June 8, 1880.-

Application filed December 2, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIKE, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in an Apparatus for Controlling Throttle and other Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists, mainly, in the electrical connection of a switch in a diving-bell with valve mechanism above, controlling the supply of pressure from the main source of power to grappling mechanism, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of the entire invention as it appears when the valveis in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the invention as it ap pears when the valve is in one of its open positions. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified construction of spring mechanism for holding the valve in its closed position. Fig. 4. is a plan view of this spring mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a vessel, diving-bell, tongs, and the proper attachments as employed for submarine purposes, the bell being represented in section to show the arrangement of the switch device within.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, 1 will now proceed to describe the same fully.

A, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, represents a throttle or other proper valve or device for controlling hydraulic or atmospheric pressure, which is provided with ports having proper pipe-connections, as shown.

a represents the plug or key of the valve, which is of such construction as to properly control the ports for the purpose of obtaining the desired supply and exhaust, in the manner well understood.

B represents a lever, held in a proper opening in the plug or key a, which is provided above with the transverse arm I), having the inclined faces b 12 as shown, and below with the spring B, loosely held in the bracket B on the stand A, as shown.

C O are the electro-magnets, secured to the supports 0 c, rising from the base A, which of which in one direction terminate in the contact-plates D D upon the switch-board, and in the other extend into the magnet and form the coil of the same, in the manner well understood.

D D represent wires leading from the coil to the earth. D represents a plate upon the switch-board, and E the switch pivoted thereto at the point e, as shown. 1) represents a wire leading from the plate D to the battery.

Ihe operation of these parts is substantially as follows: When the switch is in the-position shown in Fig. l the circuit is broken, and hence no action whatever occurs. When the switch is moved into the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, the electrical circuit extend- 7o ing through the coil O is completed, and its bar 0, being consequently magnetized, the arm '1) of the lever B is drawn over into contact with the same, as shown, against the resistance of the spring B. By means of this movement the cock A is turned, and pressure is thereby admitted from the source of supply to the proper pipe or tube leading away to the tool, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the switch is moved into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the circuit is broken through the coil 0 and established through the coil G, in consequence of which the arm I) is released from the bar 0 of G, and is drawn over into contact with the bar 0 of the coil C. By means of this movement the I cook A is turned into an opposite position, and consequently the pressure is admitted to the other pipe or tube leading away to the tool.

When the switch is returned to its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, the arm B is returned to its normal position by the reaction of the spring B.

By the employment of the mechanism de- 5 scribed it is possible for a person in a divingbell to open and close the grappling-tools himself without the intervention of other persons.

The modification of the spring mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will now be described.

A represents the cock, as before, and a the plug or key of the same. B represents the lever, having above the bar I), as before, and below a rigid portion having studs or pins b b on opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 4. I) I) represent standards located at the ends of the base-plate, and I) b intermediate standards, by means of which the spring proper is sup ported. B B are spiral springs, secured at their outer ends, If I), to the standards I) I)", as shown, the inner ends of which are extended in a straight line through the standards b I), and provided with hooks or bent ends I), adapted to engage with the pins b b. as shown. I)" I) represent collars upon the straight portionsoi" the springs, bymeans of which their return movement after expansion is limited to a definite point.

The operation is substantially as follows: Vhen the bar of either coil is magnetized the lever B is oscillated in the manner before described. By means of this oscillation one or the other of the springs B is expanded, and held in that condition until the magnetic ac tion ceases, when the lever B, being thus released, the same is drawn to place by the reaction of the expanded spring.

The manner of employing the valve-controlling mechanism with either form of spring mechanism is shown in Fig. 5, and the same will now be described.

G represents a vessel of any proper construction. H represents a divingbell of any proper construction, which is lowered from the vessel by any proper hoisting mechanism. H represents tubes by means of which air is supplied to and discharged from the bell, through which the electrical wires are con ducted, as shown. 71. represents a glazed opening or window, through which the occupant of the bell is enabled. to see the condition of things in the water outside. 1) D represent the terminal plates of the wires, which lead to the mechanism for actuating the valve which controls the opening and closing of the tongs. E represents the switch-lever which is employed in connection with these terminals. 0 0' represent terminal plates of the wires, which lead to the mechanism for actuating the valve which controls the raising and lowering of the tongs. K represents the tongs, and 7.: the actuating-cylinder of the same. h h represent the tubes leading to the tongscylinder. L represents the reservoir containing the power-supply.

The operation of these parts is substantially as follows: The diving-bell having been lowered to its proper position, the person contained therein, looking through the port lowers the tongs to the desired point by properly moving the switch 0. He then, by prop erly moving the switch E, opens or closes the tongs, as may be desired.

Some of the advantages of the described construction are as follows: By the employment of the electric actuating mechanism in connection with the valve-controlling mechanism, manipulation of the tool is placed under the management of the person in the bell, and he is enabled to operate the same without any excessive muscular exertion and with greatrapidity. By the employment of the spring mechanism the valve is automatically locked in its closed position, excepting when the same is positively held in its open one. By multiplying the number of electrical connections any number of tools may be manipulated.

do not limit myself to the special construction of the parts shown. If desired, any other suitable electrical mechanism may be employed-such as, for example, the Ruhmkorif coil. The valves may be largely varied in construction.

If desired, the spring for locking the valve may be dispensed with, and the cock instead be controlled in all its movements by themag nets.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A switch in a divingbell electrically connected to valve mechanism above, controlling the supply of pressure to grappling mechanism, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the independent switch E, the terminal plates 1) and D, and the independent magnets G G, 'n'operly connected to the terminal plates, theintermediate spring-lever, B, and valve A, the construction being such that by properly actuating the switch the lever may be held in contact with either magnet or intermediately between the two, for the purpose of controlling the valve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of November, 1879.

CHARLES F. PIKE.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. J. VAN STAVOREN, H. G. GooDRIcI-I. 

